World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley
Celebrating Ten Years: 2003-2013
Officers and Directors
Officers
Andrew Rieser – President
Sevgin Oktay – Vice President
Philip Van Itallie – Treasurer
Karen Nichols – Secretary
Board
Seemi Ahmad
Elmore Alexander
Martin Charwat
Cora Mallory-Davis
Bernard Handel
M. Glen Johnson
Harold King
Joseph Lombardi
Laraine Mai
Karen Nichols
Sevgin Oktay
Ilgu Ozler
Allan Page
Patricia Prunty
Andrew Rieser
Elayne Seaman
Philip Van Itallie
Dana vanderHeyden
Karen Minervini-Whelan
Chris Wieda
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Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the World Affairs
Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley. The World Affairs Council network
has a long and storied history. The organization traces its foundation to
individuals working in the Woodrow Wilson administration who were
concerned that at the end of World War I, Americans would choose an
isolationist foreign policy over one of global engagement and worked to
foster a grassroots, citizen involvement in international affairs. Nearly
80 years later, the Mid-Hudson Valley Council was created to further
that mission and provide leadership for global thinking for students, educators, and engaged citizens in Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange Counties.
Founding President Reflects on
Organization’s History
Martin Charwat, former President:
The World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley was launched in
2003. It was organized by Dan Strasser, then head of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Valkill, Martin Charwat, a former Foreign Service Officer,
local professors of Political Science, Glen Johnson, Richard Reitano,
and Joel Diemond, and Elayne Seaman, former Executive Director of the
Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Valkill. The idea behind its founding was to
provide residents of the tri-county Mid-Hudson region with a forum for
discussing issues related to the major international political, economic,
and social forces shaping our world and to bring respected speakers to
the area to stimulate that discussion. Early on, we decided to join the
World Affairs Councils of America, a national organization devoted to
the same goals.
Our first speaker was to be former Congressman Ben Gilman, then
serving as a special representative to the United Nations. Due to a very
heavy snowstorm, he could not get out of New York City to address a
group of over 60 brave local souls assembled at the Henry A. Wallace
Center at the FDR Library. So Professors Johnson, Reitano, and Diemond, along with Martin Charwat, stepped into the breach and conducted a panel discussion on the U.S. and the United Nations. It was so well
received that the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley was
born that snowy night in December, 2003.
Since then, the organization has grown in both membership and the
variety of its programming. From the beginning, it focused on bringing
interesting speakers to address timely topics ranging from U.S.-Mexican relations to Russia under Putin, to developments in China, Pakistan,
Africa, Brazil, and the Arab World, to issues affecting energy supplies,
world health and water scarcity. Most of the speakers were suggested
by members of the Board, a very engaged group comprised of academics, business persons, professionals in other fields, retirees and young
people with an interest in international affairs. Some programs were
sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America or affiliated groups.
April 2013
Typically, six programs are offered free-of-charge to the public annually and two “members’-only” programs round out the offerings.
The latter are very popular, as most are held at the Culinary Institute
of America and offer not only fine food but a chance for members to
socialize and have a more extensive “one-on-one” with the speakers.
Over the years the focus of the organization has morphed to include
a growing focus on youth education and programs directed at local
teachers, both at the high school and college level. For seven years
the Council has sponsored a high school team competition called
“Academic World Quest” which seeks to challenge teams of area high
school students on their knowledge of topics as varied as geography, current events, demographic and energy trends. Typically, 12-14
teams compete. The winning team is given an all-expenses paid trip
to Washington, D.C. to compete against winners from around the
country. Teachers, too, have been beneficiaries of the WAC Mid-Hudson Valley programs. Five groups of area high school teachers participated in summer study tours to Turkey, where they were hosted by
the Turkish Cultural Foundation and exposed to Turkish cultural life
and history. A similar program was provided for area college faculty
in Oman by the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Foundation. These programs
have had a tremendous “multiplier effect”, in that the returning teachers expanded their curricula and their students’ horizons with information about cultures and countries about which little was taught
previously.
Looking ahead, I would hope that the membership, now fairly stable
at about 130, would grow to over 200, with expansion especially in
Ulster and Orange Counties, with more programming scheduled for
those counties. In addition, a recently-developed partnership with the
IBM corporation to bring cultural awareness and knowledge of international opportunities in business and not-for-profit service to area
high school students, will hopefully expand. Finally, I would hope that
in the next decade the Council will have sufficient funding to hire a
professional staff person to coordinate programs that to date have
been carried out solely by volunteers. In the interim, it intends to improve its outreach by redesigning its website to include a “chat” function that will permit greater interactivity among our members and
those in the broader community interested in international affairs.
2013 Academic WorldQuest
The World Affairs Council of the MHV hosted its annual Academic WorldQuest competition at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in
Hyde Park, NY on March 2nd. The competition was sponsored in
part by IBM and the Handel Foundation. Academic WorldQuest is a
global affairs and U.S. foreign policy-based knowledge competition in
which over 4,000 high school students compete at the local level for a
chance to participate at the national competition in Washington D.C.
rious and earned the team an all expenses paid trip to Washington
D.C. sponsored by the WAC-MHV. The competition hosted 14 local
teams representing Arlington, Cornwall, Roy C. Ketcham, Spackenkill,
Oakwood Friends, Poughkeepsie Day School, Washingtonville, and
Kingston high schools. The event was attended by parents, teachers,
and fellow students.
The upcoming National Academic World Quest competition will begin
on April 27th and is to be held at Georgetown University. The event
will be moderated by David Rothkopf, CEO and Editor-at-Large, of
Foreign Policy magazine. The Mid-Hudson’s Roy C. Ketcham team
will join over 40 other winning teams as they converge on the nation’s
capitol for the weekend long event. In the past, the event has hosted
ambassadors and international affairs experts to speak in addition to
the competition. The students are also able to speak with university
faculty about a future education and career path in international relations.
Best of luck to Akiku, Breanna, Ray, and Graham on April 27th!
Photo: Quizmaster Sheila Appel of IBM with the winning team of Akiku Endo,
Breanna Lechase, Ray Bartolucci, and Graham Bass
“The U.S. Pivot to Asia and U.S.- China
Relations”
Sheila Appel, the US East Regional Manager of IBM Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, was the quizmaster for the Mid-Hudson
competition. This year’s topics included the Middle East, China, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Current Events, US Energy Policy, US Education:
Competing Globally, US Economic Competitiveness, UN Millennium
Development Goals: Environmental Sustainability, Geography, and
the Cuban Missile Crisis: 50th Anniversary.
The World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley and Vassar’s
Departments of Asian Studies and Political Science along with The
Gillespie Forum hosted Bonnie Glaser on April 2nd event for an
event entitled, “The U.S. Pivot to Asia and U.S. – China Relations.”
During the event, held at Vassar College, Glaser argued that the most
important foreign policy issue of the 21st century will be to figure
out how China and the United States can peacefully coexist as major
powers in the Asian Pacific region and beyond. Bonnie Glaser is a
senior adviser for Asia in the Freeman Chair in China Studies, where
she works on issues related to Chinese foreign and security policy.
She is concomitantly a senior associate with The Center for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS) Pacific Forum and a consultant for
the U.S. government on East Asia. Prior to joining CSIS, she also
worked as a consultant with the Department of Defense and State.
The team of Ray Bartolucci, Graham Bass, Breanna Lechase and Akiko Endo representing Roy C. Ketcham High School emerged victo-
She began her talk discussing the Obama Administration’s initial
engagement with China in early 2009 in which the U.S. sought to
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April 2013
partner with Beijing on critical issues such as climate change and
nuclear weapons. A little more than a year into office, however,
President Obama and his advisors became disappointed with China’s
unwillingness to partner on these issues and instead focus on
domestic concerns. Disappointment turned into outright frustration
after China refused to implicate North Korean involvement in the
sinking of the South Korean vessel, the Cheonan, in 2010. This
incident led Obama to publicly accuse Beijing of “willful blindness,”
noted Glaser. Tensions were further increased as a result of the
incident in the South China Sea in which a Chinese fisherman rammed
a Japanese coast guard vessel later the same year.
Ms. Glaser then continued her discussion with the Obama
Administration’s “Asian pivot” or “rebalancing” in the Asian- Pacific
region. She dismissed a common narrative, and Chinese concern,
that the pivot is really just the U.S. attempting to “contain” China and
its unprecedented rise. Glaser stated that this policy should in no
way be viewed as containment and that the U.S. – Sino relationship
in no way resembles that of the U-S. –Soviet relationship during the
Cold War. She also stated that containment would not succeed and
that all states benefit from increased trade with China. In fact, she
believes that the rebalancing is part and parcel of the U.S.’s desire to
have more favorable relations with China. Further, Glaser noted that,
despite Chinese suspicions, the U.S. policy is not all about focusing
on China. She cited the estimate that 50% of world economic output
will come from the Pacific region in 2025 and the U.S. is merely
adjusting their political and military resources accordingly.
of view, integrating China into the existing world order of shared
values, norms and procedures is critical to U.S. interests going
forward. After the lecture, Glaser participated in a lively Q&A session
with students and faculty from numerous surrounding universities
and many other engaged Hudson-Valley residents.
Glaser noted that the unique relationship
between China and the U.S. was both
adversarial and amicable depending
on the issue. She called the two states
“frenemies.”
Malaysian Ambassador Tours the
Mid-Hudson Valley
Sevgin Oktay, Vice President:
We are pleased to inform you that the World Affairs Council of
the Mid-Hudson Valley co-hosted incollaboration with the World
Affairs Council of Albany (affiliated with the International Center of
the Capital Region-ICCR) His Excellency Datuk Othman Hashim,
Malaysia’s Ambassador to the United States and his delegation while
visiting the Poughkeepsie area and the Capital Region in Albany on
March 27-28.
My colleague Diane Conroy- LaCivita , Executive Director ICCR and
I had met the Ambassador at an embassy reception given under the
auspices of the National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of
America (WACA) in Washington, DC in November 2012. The
Ambassador had expressed an interest in learning about the
semiconductor industry in this country with an emphasis on
nanotechnology and related businesses. Accordingly, we proposed
the attached program involving a visit to IBM, E. Fishkill facilities
where the world’s most advanced Nano-Fab resides, followed by a
visit to the Albany region which Forbes magazine had declared some
time ago that it could become the “Silicon Valley of Nanotech and
even surpass it in economic importance.” The ambassador accepted
the invitation with gratitude.
Photo: Bonnie Glaser at Vassar College
Glaser recommended that the current administration needed to
be realistic about its goals in the region and realize that interests will
inevitably clash. One major area of contention, of course, is Taiwan
and its special relationship with The United States. Glaser assertsed
that this is an issue that China and the U.S could go to war over. She
also warned over rising tensions between China and Japan, and said
the U.S. should not be willing to engage in a conflict over “rocks,”
referring to the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands as the Chinese refer to
them and the Senkaku Islands in Japan.
Finally, Glaser asserted that the U.S. needs to be genuine about
the commitments, both politically and militarily, that are made to
our regional allies in light of major impending budget cuts. Further,
she encouraged the U.S. to include China in the ongoing TransPacific Partnership trade negotiations in order to engage China as a
“responsible stakeholder” in the international system. Despite China’s
current unwillingness to take a leadership role, from Glaser’s point
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Photo: Sevgin Oktay, Ambassador Datuk Othman Hashim, and PVA Group
The ambassador’s delegation was welcomed at IBM by Sheila Appel,
Regional Director of Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, the
morning of 27 March. After a presentation of the IBM East Fishkill
Site, and a luncheon with open discussion, the delegation toured
the world’s most advanced and fully automated nanofabrication
April 2013
manufacturing line (Nano-Fab). Afterwards, the delegation drove
to Albany where a welcoming reception was held in honor of the
Ambassador. The following day started with a visit to the NY State
Capitol where Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy welcomed the
ambassador followed by a guided tour of the fascinating Capitol
building. Next was an excellent regional overview by the Center for
Economic Growth group followed by a roundtable luncheon with
business leaders to discuss possible collaborative opportunities
with private sector and governmental leaders from around the
Capital Region. Afterwards, the delegation visited the impressive
PVA (Precision Valve & Automation) facilities; and to round out
the very busy day with the general theme of the whole visit,
the delegation was given still another tour of a nanofabrication
manufacturing line, namely Fab 8 of the world’s second largest
independent
semiconductor
foundry, Global Foundries, Inc. in
Individual
Membership
Ballston
Spa, NY. Following the very enlightening question and
Levels
answer period, the visit concluded with many thanks,photo op
and wishes to meet again. The ambassadorial delegation left for
Washington, DC late afternoon on 28 March, 2013.
It was evident from this very brief two-day visit that there was
invaluable exchange of ideas and knowledge between the visitors
and the hosts. For example we learned that Malaysia is a federation
of 13 states operating within a constitutional monarchy using the
British Parliamentary system. Malaysia gained its independence
from the British in 1957. Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of
government, and there is multi-party system. Even the King with
his ceremonial role only, is selected for a term of five-years from
among the Sultans of the Malay states. Malaysia is a nation with a
diverse population of about 29 million comprising many different
ethnic groups including Malay, Chinese, Hindus and indigenous
peoples. Islam is the predominant religion where Buddhism,
Hinduism and Christianity are practiced freely. The King is the
leader of the Islamic faith in Malaysia. The unemployment rate
hovers around 3.3%, with little or no taxes for people below a
certain income level, and yet there is a totally free health-care
system. And as the ambassador was asked how they managed
that, he astutely observed that one should not confuse apples with
oranges as the two societies are quite different from each other.
At the same time, he was trying to understand how to prepare
the human resources in his country for industry as it is done in
the Albany region for example, through collaborative programs
between schools and industry such as the case with College of
Nanoscale Science and Engineering of SUNY Albany.
In a different dimension, this was an excellent collaborative work
between the two World Affairs Councils in the region, namely,
WAC-Albany (ICCR) and WAC-MidHudson Valley, which we hope
to cultivate more. The Council seeks out partner organizations to
co-host events. Recent partners have also included: The Henry
A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center at the FDR Presidential
Library, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, Vassar College,
Mohonk Consultations, SUNY New Paltz, Marist College, and
Dutchess Community College. As a regional center for education
and discussion of worldaffairs, the WAC-MHV seeks to provide
leadership for global thinking, believing that a broad perspective is
necessary for effective competition in the global economy and for
responsible citizenship in the increasingly interdependent political
world.
New York State Officially Recognized Our
Council in 2003 with this Document
Organization
Memembership Levels
Are YOU following the news?
1. Who was recently elected as the new Venezuelan President?
a.) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
b.) Henrique Capriles Radonski
c.) Nicolás Maduro
d.) Juan Vicente Gómez
2.) According to the United Nations, the number of Syrian refugees as of March
2013 had reached...?
a.) 595,000
b.) 755,000
c.) 335,000
d.) 1,100,000
3.) Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the ‘Iron Lady’, recently died
at age 87. Which of the following quotes is not attributed to her?
a.) “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”
b.) “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a
woman.”
c.) “Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”
d.) “Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.”
e.) All of them
(See Bottom of Last Page for Answers)
Page 4
April 2013
Join Us at Our Upcoming Public Events!
Mon., Apr. 29, 7:00 p.m. Diana Untermeyer, author and wife of
former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, “Qatar: Sand, Sea, & Sky,”
discussion of life in that desert kingdom. James & Betty Hall Theater
Dutchess Community College. Co-sponsored with World Affairs Councils of America.
Thurs., May 30, 7:00 p.m. Karen Malpede, playwright, on her play
“Extreme Whether.” readings and talk with playwright.
Kondysar Room, 2023 Hancock Center, Marist College.
Diana Untermeyer
Wed., Jun. 12, 6:00 p.m. Members’-only dinner.
Geeta Desai, Organizational Development Consultant and
scholar on women’s issues, “Sacred Cows and High Tech Businesses:
Assessing the Effects of Globalization on Indian Women”
American Bounty Room, Culinary Institute of America.
Talk in Eco-Lab Theater.
For more,visit: www.hvworldaffairscouncil.edu
Karen Malpede
Membership Options
Join Us! Meet and exchange ideas and questions with people in the region who share an interest in international issues.
The World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley is an all volunteer organization. Membership directly supports the
educational programs and activities which bring nonpartisan, lively information about critical issues facing our nation
and the world.
Student
Educator
Single
Dual
Sponsor
Leader
Patron
Benefactor
$5
$35
$50
$70
$100
$250
$500
$1,000
Not for Profit
Displomat
Envoy
Consul
Ambassador
$100
$250
$500
$1,000
$2,500
Benefits of Membership:
• Deepen your understanding of international issues that touch our lives as professionals, citizens, and students
• Connect and network with experts and like-minded indiviudals in the Hudson Valley who are seeking to expand their
knowledge and understanding of global affairs
• Invitations of public lectures, youth activities programs, and other events
• Invitations at reduced cost for Members-Only Dinners at the Culinary Institute of America
• Receive advance notice of all WACMHV activities through email
• Receive advanced copies of the quarterly WACMHV Newsletter
• Invitation to special pre-event receptions fro Patrons, Benefactors, and Organization Members
• Through WACA, special rates on publications from Foreign Affairs, World Policy Journal, and books from Brookings and
other publishers
Answers: 1-C, 2-D, 3- E
Page 5
Articles written (unless stated otherwise) by Shawn Simpson, SUNY New Paltz
Design by Shawn Simpson and Edwin Gonzalez, SUNY New Paltz
April 2013